Device for holding skis

ABSTRACT

Skis are constructed with at least one permanent magnet fixed inside one ski in the middle zone related to the ends of the ski and at least one ferromagnetic element fixed in the same zone of the other ski of the pair such that when the pair are placed together with their running surfaces face to face, the skis will hold together without the use of straps or other external holding devices.

United States Patent 3,353,835 ll/l967 Sommer 280/ll.35M 3.479.044 11/1969 P615 280/ll 13T FOREIGN PATENTS 26,229 9/1915 Norway 280/1L37KA 65,330 6/1943 Norway 280/ll.37KA 246,283 9/1947 Switzerland. 280/ll.37KA

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney- Kemon. Palmer and Estabrook ABSTRACT: Skis are constructed with at least one permanent magnet fixed inside one ski in the middle zone related to the ends of the ski and at least one ferromagnetic element fixed in the same zone of the other ski of the pair such that when the pair are placed together with their running surfaces face to face, the skis will hold together without the use of straps or other external holding devices.

PATENTEDNUV 1619?! SHEET 1 UF 2 BY 7 4- W6 ATTO R N EY 'PMENTEDunv 16 197i SHEET 2 BF 2 ATTORNEY mzvrcr: son uowmo SKIS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Reference is made under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 120 to copending applicaiton Ser. No. 621,922, filed Mar 9, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,044.

This invention relates to a pair of skis capable of being held together with their running surfaces face to face without the use of straps or other external holding devices.

Straps, ribbons or the like have been hitherto used to hold individual skis to ski carriers on motor vehicles.

Formerly toe straps of ski bindings were available for holding purposes, but this is impossible with modern bindings. Long thongs and safety straps are not always appropriate; they are not commonly used and technical improvements are likely to be substituted for them in the future.

For holding individual skis to ski carriers or for joining them to a pair particular devices are necessary; hitherto straps with various fastenings have usually been used. As a matter of experience such straps are easily lost or torn after short use, particularly when made of rubber. Even in the case of specially designed fastenings it is complicated to open and lock them. In addition, it is necessary to clear the ski topside of snow and ice before fastening the straps.

The present invention aims at eliminating such shortcomings in that at least one permanent magnet is fixed inside the first ski in the middle zone related to the ski ends, with at least one pole of said at least one magnet adjacent to the running surface of the ski, and at least one ferromagnetic element is fixed in the same zone of the second ski of said pair in such position that when placing the two individual skis together with their running surfaces face to face, said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski will at least partially overlay at least one pole of said at least one magnet of the first ski.

The one or more ferromagnetic elements of the second ski may be permanent magnets and the pole of such a magnet is arranged adjacent the running surface of the ski so that when the pair of skis are in said face-to-face position, said at least one magnet of the first attracts an overlaying magnet of the second ski.

The permanent magnet, or in the case of more permanent magnets, each magnet of the first and possibly of the second ski may consist of at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and of pole shoes, with at least a portion of said pole shoes adjacent the running surface of the ski forming the poles of the permanent magnet.

Surprisingly, the arrangement of the magnets or magnet assemblies in the ski middle zone does not negatively affect the so-called middle tension of the ski by which the unloaded skis upward arching in the ski middle zone is meant. On the other hand, the arrangement of the magnets or magnet assemblies in the ski middle is more convenient from the manufacturing viewpoint; it makes possible the use of magnet shapes and dimensions ensuring an extremely high adhesive power and reduces occasionally arising magnetic stray fields not contributing to adhesive power, to a minimum extent. Furthermore, adhesive effects are not automatically produced by casual contacts of the ski running surfaces in this case, but the two skis have to be pressed together in the ski middle zone against the action of middle tension, thus a wilful action, though of the simplest manner, being necessary for joining the two skis together. Pressing the two skis together with the result of tightly contacting the running surfaces also implies a tight overlaying of the polar surfaces or pole shoe surfaces of the magnets or magnet assemblies in the ski middle zone of both skis and henceforth an extremely good adhesive power. With magnets or magnet assemblies arranged in the ski end zones, here the running surface is arched, merely a tangential contact of polar surfaces or polar shoe surfaces could be established, which involves heavy losses due to air gaps and stray fields.

Finally, taking the two magnetically joined skis apart wilfully is more convenient with the magnets or magnet assemblies arranged in the ski middle zone.

Embodiments of the invention and further features thereof are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, these embodiments being in no way limitative.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair of skis joined together and FIG. 2 is a top view of the running surface of one of the skis.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one ski according to FIGS. 1 and 2 through the ski middle zone, showing a magnet assembly in detail.

FIG. 4 illustrates another magnet assembly in cross-sectional view through the ski middle zone.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another pair of skis joined together and FIG. 6 is a top view of the running surface of one ski.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one ski according to FIGS. 5 and 6 through the middle zone of the ski, showing the magnet assembly in detail.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the magnet assembly of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pair of skis with permanent magnet elements 1 fixed in each of the two skis in the ski middle zone, approximately in the binding zone, and with the adhesive surfaces or polar surfaces N (north) and S (south) of their pole shoes lying in the ski running surface in the order as represented.

FIG. 3 illustrates a possible construction and magnet assemblies fixed in the ski body in the ski middle zone with an adhesive or polar surface arrangement according to FIG. 2. The permanent magnet elements 1 are arranged in inner recesses of the ski body, lying in the ski core between two blocks 12 respectively. The pole shoes 3 pass through the lower carrying layer 13 and the running surface 8 so that a part of the polar surface lies in the ski running surface. These pole shoe surfaces are the sources of adhesive power for joining two skis together or placing the individual skis to ski carriers or the like.

For purposes of cleamess in FIG. 3 the upper carrying layer of the ski body bears the reference numeral 11, the top coating 9, the side coating 10 and the steel edges 6.

With a wooden ski the carrying top layers 11 and 13 consist of wood, with a metal ski usually of light metal and with a plastic ski of glass-fiber-reinforced plastics. The blocks 12' may consist of wood or another core material commonly used.

An embodiment showing the use of permanent magnets without pole shoes nor polar surfaces is illustrated in FIG. 4.

In cylindrical recesses of the ski body 12" consisting of wood cylindrical permanent magnets l with axes normal to the ski running surface are arranged. The two cylindrical permanent magnets l have poles of different denomination in that in the one magnet the polar surface N (north), in the other the polar surface S (south) faces the running surface. The polar surfaces are hidden by small plastics disks 17 of smaller thickness than the rest of the coating 8.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the polar surfaces may be hidden too, i.e., above all, the adhesive surfaces or polar surfaces of the inner pole shoes 3, for example by the ski coating.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 8 a magnet assembly consisting of a permanent magnet element 1 and the two pole shoes 3 of different denomination (N, S) is arranged in a recess of the ski core 12 in the ski middle zone. The permanent magnet element 1 extends along the ski axis and the two side pole shoes 3 aligned in longitudinal direction of the ski project through the lower carrying layer 13 as well as the coating 8 up to the ski running surface on both sides of the ski axis or running groove 8. The space lying above the permanent magnet element 1 may be hollow or filled up with core material (for example, wood) as represented. The steel edges 6 have no adhesive function. They may consist of single parts (laminated edges) or be formed in one continuous piece.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show where the magnet assembly is arranged in the longitudinally extending ski. In a top view of the ski running surface the adhesive surfaces N, S of the pole shoes 3 lying in the running surface are visible only.

As shown in FIG. 8, the magnet assembly may be subdivided in the ski longitudinal direction in that the permanent magnet element 1 consists of three portions arranged one after another and spaced apart by elastic intennediate pieces 18. Besides, the pole shoes 3 provide slits 19. Thus the magnet assembly l, 3, may adapt more readily to possible bendings of the ski.

Unlike the embodiment of F l0. 7, the pole shoes 3 may pass only through part of the coating 8 and may be hidden in their bottom side by a thin layer of plastics or a magnetically conducting material, for example a plastics material mixed with iron powder. This thin layer may have the same color as the coating 8.

What I claim is:

l. A pair of skis capable of being held together with their running surfaces face to face without use of straps or other external holding devices comprising at least one permanent magnet fixed inside the first of the skis in the middle zone where there is upward arching of the ski with at least one pole of said at least one magnet adjacent the running surface of the ski and at least one ferromagnetic element fixed in the same zone of the second ski of said pair in such a position that when the skis of the pair are placed together with their running surfaces face to face, said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski will at least partially overlay at least one pole of said at least one magnet of the first ski the magnetic attraction between said permanent magnet and said ferromagnetic element being sufficient to hold the running surfaces of the skis together when they are pressed together against the force of the upward arching of the skis.

2. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is a permanent magnet and the pole of such magnet is arranged adjacent the running surface of the ski so that when the pair of skis are in said face to face position, said at least one magnet of the first attracts an overlaying magnet of the second ski.

3. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 2 wherein the permanent magnet being said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, at least one portion of said pole shoes adjacent the running surface forming the poles of said at least one permanent magnet of the second ski.

4. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, at least a portion of said pole shoes adjacent the running surface of the ski forming the poles of said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski.

5. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is a permanent magnet, said permanent magnet or magnets comprising at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, and the poles of said pole shoes are arranged adjacent the running surface of the ski so that when the pair of skis are in said face-to-face position, said at least one magnet of the first attracts the overlaying pole shoes of said at least one magnet of the second ski with their pole shoes.

6. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said at least one permanent magnetic piece extending along the ski axis and said pole shoes being arranged laterally of said at least one permanent magnetic piece and aligned in the ski longitudinal direction, and projecting through the coating at least approximately up to the ski running surface on both sides of said ski axis.

7. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 6 wherein one pole shoe at the left and at the right of the running groove respectively, at least approximately projects up to the ski running surface.

8. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said at least one permanent magnetic piece extending along the ski axis and said pole shoes being arranged laterally of said at least one permanent magnetic piece and aligned in the ski longitudinal direction, and projecting through the coating at least approximately up to the ski running surface on both sides of said ski axis.

9. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 8 wherein one pole shoe at the left and at the right of the running groove respectively, at least approximately projects up to the ski running surface.

10. A pair of skis as claimed in claim I wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of the ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes arranged laterally of the at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and provided with essentially vertical slits.

11. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 10 wherein said slits start from the edge of the pole shoes facing away from the running surface.

12. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein'said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of the ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes arranged laterally of the at least one permanent magnetic piece and provided with essentially vertical slits.

13. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 12 wherein said slits start from the edge of the pole shoes facing away from the running surface.

14. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said permanent magnetic piece consisting of individual portions arranged one after another in the ski longitudinal direction and spaced from one another.

15. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 14 wherein elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between said individual portions of said permanent magnetic piece.

16. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said permanent magnetic piece consisting of individual portions arranged one after another in the ski longitudinal direction and spaced apart from one another.

17. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 16 wherein elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between the individual portions of said permanent magnetic piece.

18. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of said pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin plastics layer.

19. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of the pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin plastics layer.

20. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of the pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin layer of a magnetically conducting material, such as a plastics material mixed with iron powder.

21. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin layer of a magnetically conducting material, such as a plastics material mixed with iron powder. 

1. A pair of skis capable of being held together with their running surfaces face to face without use of straps or other external holding devices comprising at least one permanent magnet fixed inside the first of the skis in the middle zone where there is upward arching of the ski with at least one pole of said at least one magnet adjacent the running surface of the ski and at least one ferromagnetic element fixed in the same zone of the second ski of said pair in such a position that when the skis of the pair are placed together with their running surfaces face to face, said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski will at least partially overlay at least one pole of said at least one magnet of the first ski the magnetic attraction between said permanent magnet and said ferromagnetic element being sufficient to hold the running surfaces of the skis together when they are pressed together against the force of the upward arching of the skis.
 2. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is a permanent magnet and the pole of such magnet is arranged adjacent the running surface of the ski so that when the pair of skis are in said face to face position, said at least one magnet of the first attracts an overlaying magnet of the second ski.
 3. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 2 wherein the permanent magnet being said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, at least one portion of said pole shoes adjacent the running surface forming the poles of said at least one permanent magnet of the second ski.
 4. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, at least a portion of said pole shoes adjacent the running surface of the ski forming the poles of said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski.
 5. A pair of skiS as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is a permanent magnet, said permanent magnet or magnets comprising at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, and the poles of said pole shoes are arranged adjacent the running surface of the ski so that when the pair of skis are in said face-to-face position, said at least one magnet of the first attracts the overlaying pole shoes of said at least one magnet of the second ski with their pole shoes.
 6. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said at least one permanent magnetic piece extending along the ski axis and said pole shoes being arranged laterally of said at least one permanent magnetic piece and aligned in the ski longitudinal direction, and projecting through the coating at least approximately up to the ski running surface on both sides of said ski axis.
 7. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 6 wherein one pole shoe at the left and at the right of the running groove respectively, at least approximately projects up to the ski running surface.
 8. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said at least one permanent magnetic piece extending along the ski axis and said pole shoes being arranged laterally of said at least one permanent magnetic piece and aligned in the ski longitudinal direction, and projecting through the coating at least approximately up to the ski running surface on both sides of said ski axis.
 9. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 8 wherein one pole shoe at the left and at the right of the running groove respectively, at least approximately projects up to the ski running surface.
 10. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of the ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes arranged laterally of the at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and provided with essentially vertical slits.
 11. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 10 wherein said slits start from the edge of the pole shoes facing away from the running surface.
 12. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of the ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes arranged laterally of the at least one permanent magnetic piece and provided with essentially vertical slits.
 13. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 12 wherein said slits start from the edge of the pole shoes facing away from the running surface.
 14. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said permanent magnetic piece consisting of individual portions arranged one after another in the ski longitudinal direction and spaced from one another.
 15. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 14 wherein elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between said individual portions of said permanent magnetic piece.
 16. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, said permanent magnetic piece consisting of individual portions arranged one after another in the ski longitudinal direction and spaced apart from one another.
 17. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 16 wherein elastic intermediate pieces are arranged between the individual portions of said permanent magnetic piece.
 18. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of said pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin plastics layer.
 19. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of the pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin plastics layer.
 20. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one permanent magnet of the first ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes, the surfaces of the pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin layer of a magnetically conducting material, such as a plastics material mixed with iron powder.
 21. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one ferromagnetic element of the second ski is fixed in a recess of said ski body in said ski middle zone, and comprises at least one piece of permanent magnetic material and pole shoes facing the ski running surface being hidden by a thin layer of a magnetically conducting material, such as a plastics material mixed with iron powder. 